The Ocean Film Festival World Tour arrives in the UK starting at Edinburgh on Saturday September 5. A new collection of short films celebrate the ocean from every angle, above the surface, beneath the waves and deep into the stories that connect us all to the sea.
UK tour director Nell Teasdale said: “As we head into our 13th year, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour remains a celebration of the ocean in all its beauty, power and vulnerability.
“Each film in the 2026 programme will offer something special, whether it’s extraordinary adventure, breathtaking marine life or people dedicating their lives to protecting the sea. We can’t wait to bring this year’s line-up to audiences around the UK.”
After the only Scottish date, the tour heads to England and Wales.
Highlights of Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2026
One of the standout films in the 2026 collection is The Raftsmen, with an epic story of courage and endurance. Twelve unlikely adventurers from seven different countries come together to attempt a feat few would dare imagine – crossing the Pacific Ocean on three handmade wooden rafts, guided only by the sun and stars.
Battling storms, starvation and the psychological toll of life at sea, their six-month journey remains the longest raft expedition ever completed. Now, 50 years later, the original 16mm footage has been restored into 4K, allowing modern audiences to witness the sheer scale of this once-in-a-lifetime ocean odyssey.
Nell added: “It’s always incredible to see audiences come out year after year – not just to watch beautiful films, but to feel part of something bigger. The ocean connects all of us, and this event is a chance to celebrate that connection on the big screen.”
Other films in this year’s tour
Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests: When Italian photographer Ismaele moves to Northern Norway, he dreams of exploring the icy Arctic waters and filming iconic wolffish among lush kelp forests. But beneath the surface, he finds a stark reality: An ocean floor stripped bare. As he meets people fighting to restore the underwater world, he finds hope – and a powerful call for collective action.
Granny Grommets: There’s no age limit on enjoying the ocean – and this heartwarming short film proves just that!. A group of older women – some in their 80s – take to the waves with their bodyboards.
Tides of Life: Driven by a lifelong love of wildlife, charismatic entrepreneur Richard Tesore opens Uruguay’s first rescue and rehabilitation centre for marine mammals. Caring for injured penguins, sea lions, otters and more, this short film explores Richard’s unwavering mission to protect the fragile marine life along Uruguay’s coast, and the legacy he’s building on the shores of this small South American country and beyond.
Ride of a lifetime: Big wave surfer Alo Slebir has been obsessed with riding the perfect wave at an iconic location – but when it comes, how does he react?
The Kelp Collector: After a career in science, Sandy Webb has found a new passion in retirement: Collecting and cataloguing diverse algae species that inhabit the waters near her home. With the precision of a scientist and the eye of an artist, she transforms her discoveries into exquisite pressed-seaweed specimens.
For dates and tickets for Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2026, see: www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk.